Each year, the Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department recognizes several local businesses for their outstanding environmentally-responsible business practices. Each business receives an Emerald Award trophy for their exceptional efforts in protecting the environment.

The presentation of trophies by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners to the winners is held annually at a special ceremony; followed by a brief reception:

Business Size: LargeNature of Business: Gardner Foreign Auto Parts is an automotive salvage yard that specializes in the recycling and sales of auto parts. Automotive recyclers make it easy for consumers to find clean used parts for all types of vehicles. They play a valuable role by rebuilding, recovering, and reselling usable parts, and recycling materials that cannot be reused in their present form.

Business Size: LargeNature of Business: Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (CCE) is the world's largest marketer, distributor and producer of bottled and can liquid non alcoholic refreshment. Coca-Cola Enterprises sells approximately 80 percent of the Coca-Cola Company's bottle and can volume in North America and is the sole licensed bottler for products of the Coca-Cola Company in Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Monaco and the Netherlands.

In 2008, CCE initiated a recycling program and recycled 87 percent of all waste generated in the facility

Business Size: LargeNature of Business: Chris Villegas and LeeAnne Hudson are role models for making the best of a bad situation while remaining mindful of the environment and helping others. These attributes have earned them Broward County's 2008 Emerald Award in the "Small Business - Green Products/Practices Programs" category.

The company's environmental achievements include:

The failing economy resulted in unemployment for the couple, but it didn't stop them from advancing. They did research to find a niche business and the end result is Chris & Lee Mobile Auto Care.

The auto care industry typically places a high demand on water. This company doesn't. Chris & Lee Mobile Auto Care is "waterless," using cleaning products that are certified as biodegradable by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

To get the job done, cleaner is sprayed on and wiped off with a microfiber towel, which can be washed and reused. Based on EPA estimates, up to 116 gallons of water are saved per car wash.

Business Size: LargeNature of Business: Valley Forge Fabrics, founded in 1977 is a privately held; family owned and operated company in Pompano Beach. They are the largest producer of decorative fabrics for the hospitality industry. They have offices in Dubai, Italy, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Australia. All fabrics sold by Valley Forge are designed for use in the hospitality and commercial industry. Each textile exceeds ACT (Association of Contract Textiles) standards for their specific end uses.

As part of their sustainability initiative, they created a line of fabrics called FRESH - Fabrics Redefining Environmental Standards for Hospitality. FRESH products are made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester - from PET plastic beverage bottles. Due to the company's strict adherence to their own performance standards (which are substantially higher than the industry expectations as well as ACT requirements), the fabrics will perform at their premium for longer than the expected 5-7 years for upholstery and 18-24 months for bedding. Longevity is a major tenant of sustainability and an important part of the life cycle view. Virgin polyester which has been the fiber of choice for the hospitality industry, for its performance qualities, is derived from petroleum. Recycle symbol 1 plastic/ PET/plastic bottles are also derived from petroleum. The decision to make polyester for FRESH bedding from used plastic bottles saves precious natural resources. Just as vital, Valley Forge finds a home (not a landfill) for plastic bottles that are discarded by consumers. Due to the amount of product Valley Forge manufactures - millions of yards annually - the savings of petroleum is very substantial.

In addition, there is substantial resource savings in the manufacturing process itself when compared to more traditional non-recycled polyester products. The yarn costs for recycled fibers are more expensive than non-recycled material. Valley Forge is committed to taking very small margins to keep the price points competitive and further the use of these products through its worldwide distribution. Other products in the FRESH line include an innovative award-winning fiber from Eucalyptus blended with Cotton bedding product. The environmental story for the Valley Forge LIVING FRESH Eucalyptus product is magnified by the fabulous hand and high end appeal. Valley Forge also is the only textile company to date with and established reclamation program for their customers to use to recycle the fabrics at the end of their use. Until the FRESH program, hotels never had a way to recycle fabric. By recycling FRESH fabrics, Valley Forge will literally save millions of pounds of waste from entering landfills each year. The USGBC's LEED certification green building program is recognized as the paramount guideline of environmental building protocol in the USA. FRESH products may contribute towards LEED points under various LEED systems. As sustainable technology continues to improve, Valley Forge is working with engineers and chemists to continue to innovate in the area of textile sustainability.

Other ways that Valley Forge Fabrics is showing environmental responsibility:

By purchasing four hybrid company vehicles, they saved 217,055 pounds of CO2 per year

Business Size: LargeNature of Business: The pre-school is the first in Broward County to introduce a STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Math) program. For the 2009 - 2010 school year, all Kindergartners will be issued laptop computers as part of their STEM curriculum empowering students to be leaders in technology and innovation.

Factors that qualified the business include:

Ecofriendly childcare that strives to protect and preserve the environment and teaches tomorrow's leaders the importance of that mission

Serve organic snacks

Teach children yoga

Floors made of bamboo, easy to clean and made of renewable resource

Use ecofriendly cleaners, safer for children

In place of paper towels, use hand cloths that are washed and reused. This teaches children about sustainability

Recycle bins placed throughout facility

Changed an old door with a new one that has a window it in. This allows natural light in, reducing electricity needs

All paint is low VOC

Use live plants to naturally keep air cleaner

Use of organic garden as teaching tool

Collect rainwater for use in garden

Artificial turf in play area has an antimicrobial layer. Children stay cleaner and germ exposure reduced

Use of technology to reduce paper usage and operate the business efficiently. Examples include:o Electronic log in/out for childreno Daily reports are blogged and sent via email.o Student enrollment is completed online and saved on their databaseo The parent handbook is onlineo Communication is done via e-mail with parents